Iran and Britain summon envoys over alleged spying in UK

Britain and Iran have summoned each and every others envoys after 3 Iranians have been charged with spying in the United Kingdom.

The IRNA information company stated the British fee d’affaire used to be requested on Sunday to explain what it stated used to be “unjustified” and “politically motivated” arrests.

On Monday, the Foreign Office replied by way of summoning Tehran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom following the fees.

Three Iranian males have been arrested on 3 May and gave the impression in court docket in London on Saturday charged with spying for the Islamic republic.

It stated the federal government “is clear that protecting national security remains our top priority and Iran must be held accountable for its actions”.

“The summons follows this weekend’s announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service,” it added.

The alleged spying happened from August 2024 to February 2025, in line with the Metropolitan Police.

Police known them as Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, all residing in London.

A fourth guy used to be arrested on 9 May as a part of the investigation, however has been launched at no cost, the Met stated.

The 3 males, who arrived in the United Kingdom between 2016 and 2022, have been granted transient go away to stay after claiming asylum.

It is said they performed surveillance in an effort to finding reporters related to Iran International.

Iran International produces protection this is crucial of the present regime in Iran and has been proscribed in Iran as a terrorist organisation.

“Iran must be held to account for its actions,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated in a commentary following Saturday’s fees.

“We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil,” she added.

It comes as 5 different Iranian males have been arrested at the identical day in London, Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester as a part of a separate counter-terrorism investigation.

Four of the boys – who were hung on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act – were launched from custody, even though the investigation “remains active and is ongoing”, police stated.

The 5th guy used to be previous bailed to an unspecified date in May.